GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) 鈥� Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.
Funk died Wednesday at her apartment in an assisted living facility in the Dallas and Fort Worth suburb of Grapevine, Texas, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell said Thursday. O’Dell, who described herself as Funk’s caregiver, said she was by Funk’s side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.
鈥淚t took its toll,鈥� O’Dell said in a phone interview.
Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA鈥檚 all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos鈥� Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by 鈥淪tar Trek鈥� actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America鈥檚 first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.
Bezos chose Funk as an 鈥渉onored guest鈥� to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.
鈥淲ally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,鈥� NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
